Bowling alley kickback with replaceable panel



Jan. 12, v1965 M. E. UNTIEDT ETAL 3,165,316

BOWLING ALLEY KICKBACK WITH REFLACEABLE PANEL Filed May 21 1962 J 5 r 3 m M a? w .7 un w n %w& DLH MUM r ,mk L L ma United States Patent 3,165,316 7 BUWLHNG ALLEY KIIQKBACK WITH REPLACEABLE PANEL Miles E. Untiedt and Jack E. Larson, Muskcgon, Mich, assignors to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1962-, Ser. No. 196,317

Claims. {@l. 273-53) I This invention relates to bowling alley kickbacks. 7

It is the general object to provide a new and improved kickback construction and, more particularly, it is an object to provide such a construction embodying a frame the pin zone so that removal therefrom of the facings is difficult, usually involving the moving of the automatic pinsetter which rests thereupon. This work constitutes a loss of time and money to the bowling alley proprietor, and a period of time when the bowling alleys must be idle. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a kickback in the form of a panel slidable in a frame to facilitate removal and replacement of the panel when the insert is worn.

A further object of this invention is to provide a kickback construction which allows replacement of the kickback surface facing without disassembling the automatic pinsetter.

Other objects will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the invention shown installed at the pit end of a bowling alley;

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channel extending downwardly to form a guide slot therebetween.

The frame 20 also includes a lower channel member 30 extending between the vertical channels 21 and 22, the channels 21', 22, and 36 being suitablywelded together at their connecting portions and having a sheet metal facing 31 on each side thereof, thus forming a rigid frame structure. Inner faces of metal sheets 31 are provided with spaced sound-deadening strips 31a such as extruded calk. Normally the spaces below the channels are occupied by the pit construction of an automatic pinsetter. I

Below the forwardly extending portion 25' of the channel 25 is a channel member 32 extending from the channel 22 and with its forward end 33 located substan tially below the forward end 26 of the channel 25. The side flanges 34 and of the channel member 32 extend upwardly as shown best in FIG. 3, to form a lower guide slot for the panel 27. Preferably, the facings 31 are provided with forwardly extending portions 31' which span the intermediate space between the vertical channel 22 and the header plank 17.

The kickback panel 27 is of a thicknessat its .upper and lower edges which fits closely and slidably between the channels 25 and 32, and at its rear edge is shaped so that when in its operative position, its rear edge fits into the slot 22 formed between the forwardly extending flanges 37 (FIG. 4 of channel 22. The kickback panel FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof looking at the left-hand end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view looking at the right-hand end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of FIG. 3.

While a preferred form is shown in the drawings and hereinafter described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

As shown, the invention is embodied in a kickback installed at the pit end of a bowling alley 11. A pin deck portion 12 of the alley is supported in a well-known manner on a cement foundation 16. A header plank 17 extends downwardly from the end of the pin deck to the bottom of a pit 18. A usual side gutter 19 is shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The kickback embodying the invention includes an upright frame having a rear portion indicated generally at 20, and comprises a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending channel members 21 and 22 secured to the foundation beneath the pit 18 by means including plates 23 and 24, respectively, welded to the lower ends of the channels. A top channel member 25 extends across the tops of the channels and has a portion 25 extending forwardly therefrom to form a part of a front portion of the frame and so that the forward end 26 thereof is substantially at the front edge of a kickback panel 27. Preferably, the top member is in the form of a channel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the side flanges 2% and 29 of the is preferably provided with fiber or other suitable facing members 38 and 39. These are generally attached to the kickback panel 27 by suitable means such that it is possible to replace them when they become excessively worn.

As illustrated in the drawings, the upper channel 25 is adapted to form a support for an automatic pinsetter. Thus, a front pinsetter frame support indicated at 40 is secured to an intervening member 41 welded to the forwardly extending portion 25'. Rear pinsetter frame supports 42 and 43 are carried on a member 44 extending across vertical members 45, 46. Thus, the weight of the pinsetter is carried by the upper channel member 25, the forward portion 25' of which is supported by the kickback panel 27. Where kickbacks are installed adjacent each other, as between adjacent alleys, these may be secured together as by tie straps 49 connected respectively 7 between adjacent members 41 and adjacent members 44.

With the kickback frame installed in the manner shown in the drawings and a kickback panel 27 in place, the weight of an automatic pinsetter on the upper channel 25' causes the inside beveled surfaces of the channels 25' and 32 to wedge against the adjacent tapered edges 38' and 39' of the panel to hold the panel in place. If desired, additional locating screws as at 50 or other devices may be added.

When the facings of the kickback panel are worn and it is therefore desirable to replace them, by jacking up the front end of the pinsetter it is possible to withdraw the kickback panel for repair or replacement purposes. Upon replacement of the panel and the lowering of the pinsetter, the panel is again secured rigidly in place.

We claim:

1. A bowling alley kickback having, in combination, an upright frame with a rear portion adapted to extend upwardly from an alley pit floor and comprising a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically positioned channel members with the forward channel member flanges extending forwardly of the alley and a top channel member extending along the top of the rear portion and with its a lower point on the rear portion at about the alley level and a panel removably fitted between said upper and I lower channels and into the forward vertical channel and pressed downwardly. 2. A bowling alley kickback having, in combination,

'an upright-frame with a rear portion adapted to extend upwardly from an alley pit floor and comprising a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically positioned members and a top channel member extending along the top of the rear portion and with its flanges projecting downwardly, a 1

facing attached to each side of said rear portion, and a front portion comprising a pair of opposed channel members, one being a forward extension of the top channel members of the rear portion and the other extending forwardly from a lower point on the rear portion at about the alleys level and panel means removably fitted between said front portion channels and against the forward vertical member and held thereby and adapted when in posig tion to support the upper channel.

3. A bowling alley kickback having, in combination, an upright frame comprising a rear portion adapted to extend upwardly from an alley pit floor and having a vertical channel memberalong its forward edge with the flanges thereof facing forwardly therefrom to form a' groove formed by the vertical channel member, and having replaceable facings on its alley sides, I r

4. A bowling alley kickback having, in combination, an upright frame comprising a rear portion adapted to extend upwardly from an alley pit floor and a front portion comprising a'pair of opposed channel members, one extending forwardly from the upper part of the rear portion and the other extending forwardly from a lower part of the rear portion, said opposed channel membershaving their flanges formingguide grooves, op'enat the forward end thereof, and a woodenrectangular panel removably fitted between said opposed channels and held thereby when the upper channel is pressed downwardly. I

5. A bowling alley kickback having, :in'combination,

an upright frame comprising a rear portion adapted to extend upwardly from an alley pitfloor, an intermediate portion for spacing the rear portion from the adjacent end of the alley and a frontrportion comprising a pair of opposed channel members, one extending forwardly from the top of the rear portion and .the other extending forwardly from a lower part of the rear portion and over the intermediate portion, said rear and intermediate portions having sheet metal facings thereon, and panel means slidably removably fitted between said front portion channels and guided thereby and adapted when in position to support the upper channel.

References Gated the file of thispate nt: V UNITED STATES PATENTS Montooth Jan. 3, 1956 

4. A BOWLING ALLEY KICKBACK HAVING, IN COMBINATION, AN UPRIGHT FRAME COMPRISING A REAR PORTION ADAPTED TO EXTEND UPWARDLY FROM AN ALLEY PIT FLOOR AND A FRONT PORTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CHANNEL MEMBERS, ONE EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE UPPER PART OF THE REAR PORTION AND THE OTHER EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM A LOWER PART OF THE REAR PORTION, SAID OPPOSED CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING THEIR FLANGES FORMING GUIDE GROOVES, OPEN AT THE FORWARD 